Desire is part of the human condition. As long as we have our home in the human mind and body, we will have cravings. Longing is a feeling of intense desire, an urgent need, and a longing to possess something. Our cravings are persistent and varied. There are sensory cravings that involve taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing. Some people have an ongoing desire to constantly acquire material possessions. Some of these individuals are narcissists.
The narcissist, especially the high-level narcissist, who is very successful in the world, sees himself as special, superior, and perfect. He feels entitled to have what he wants. The narcissist is in a constant state of restless activity designed to enhance his or her image of perfection. Beneath the superiority, the narcissist experiences deep unconscious feelings of emptiness, worthlessness, and longing. One of the ways the narcissist deals with these feelings is through the relentless acquisition of power and possessions. Whether it be houses, cars, antiques, jewelry, a series of wives, husbands, lovers, etc., this represents concrete proof that he is more valuable and entitled than ordinary people. The narcissist impresses others with his possessions. He is highly competitive. If he/she is a millionaire, there is a drive to become a billionaire, even a billionaire. If he has two vacation homes, why not five or six? He is always proving to himself and others that he is at the top of the heap. Today the world handsomely rewards narcissists for their accumulation of power, social status, and wealth. They are celebrated in the press and envied by their peers and subordinates. There are young people who admire powerful narcissists and want to emulate them.
Beneath the glitz and glitz, the swarm of press, the lists of top movers and shakers, the narcissist feels lonely, empty, worthless, and fraudulent. You are trapped in a perpetual cycle of longing, and with it, the inability to break free to experience authenticity, meaningful relationships, and peace of mind.